You had better be writing right now. That is all.

Author's Response: I definitely am writing! I'm so happy that you're enjoying this story! :)

You had better work on the next chapter tomorrow. I can't believe you left us THERE. I want, no, NEED to know what happens next.

I love the little steps they're both taking, but are both unsure as to what the other person is ACTUALLY saying. Jim doesn't want to get his heart broken again, so he's being extra careful and I adore that.

Pam's, I don't think there's anyone I can date in Scranton line killed me, that is going to fuck up poor Jim's head LOL. Bring it ON.

Author's Response: LOL Yes, I'm working on the next chapter right now! As soon as I'm finished replying to reviews that is. Which only gives me a little bit of time to start but I'm definitely on it :) Yes, this is a little steps kind of story. Im having so much fun coming up with little ways for them to communicate now that the doors have opened, since she didn't blow him off, I definitely think he's more receptive to her. I'm glad you like my tentative Jim. Don't worry though, more will be on the way soon and you'll see where I end up when I get there. Patience my dear :) xx (thank you as always for all that you do to keep me going!)

I'm glad you addressed this: "He took another long sip of his beer, trying to swallow his curiosity about that date she went on, the memory of hearing about it coming back with a gut punching force. With a shake of his head, he let a few seconds of silence linger." That moment was one of the most heartwrenching of the series for me, and it's not visited very often in fanfic.

Author's Response: Thanks! I'm actually going to touch on that one more time in the next chapter, I agree, not many fics include it, but I think just the look on his face when he hears it is a reason enough to bring it up in this story. It's very heartwrenching, I completely agree. I think that combined with how she cuts him off really pushes Jim toward Karen, so I'm going to explore what it would have been like had he been able to talk about it with her. I am so happy you're enjoying this story, more will be on the way soon :)

10

Never read anything like this before. I hope you continue.

Author's Response: Thank you! I try to keep my stories original, or as close to original as possible. I'm happy you like this! More on the way soon. :)

10

You can never post too much fic!

I was sad that the reason she said about not getting married was bc Roy is an ass. Nothing about Jim. At least from his POV, Pam hasn't said anything to give him any hope.

Come on, Pam! Step it up!

Author's Response: Thanks! I'm really thinking at this point she wouldn't say anything about how Jim influenced her decision because he's so far away, she thinks it wouldn't make much of a difference, that he's moved on and that she's going to have to move on without him there. Maybe I'm over thinking it lol I'm so happy you enjoyed this story so far and hope you'll like how it continues! :) More on the way soon!

9

Great chapter. I love the actual episode. And while the build up was worth it in the end I know I wanted that call to end differently at the time. You could tell how close they were. I'll be waiting for the next chapter :)

Author's Response: Thanks! Exactly, they were so close to getting back to normal, or at least trying to, that I think her cutting him off that way really made him put the walls back up. I know they had to do it for the show and the pay off was worth it most definitely. It's fun to write the what if scenario, too, and explore how things could have gone differently. I'm happy you liked this and hope you'll enjoy the upcoming chapters!

I like the awkwardness. Yeah, they seemed to be getting along really well towards the end of the phone conversation in The Initiation, but I think they both were too timid to bring up what needed to be asked - i.e. Pam's canceled wedding and Jim's move. I like that you had them broach the subjects here without getting too emotional about it. That's exactly where they were then.

 Would it be too much to post another fic of yours today? Do you even have to ask? ;) Please post!

10

Girl, you could post 1000 fics a day and I would not complain. Your stories get me through my day.

I can't express just how much I am already adoring this story. Seeing Pam talk so proudly of her art, and how happy that makes him, makes me smile and go all gooey inside. I say it in every review, but I'm really looking forward to seeing what you have planned for these two. The web chat is gonna be all kinds of cute awkward aweseomness.

Author's Response: Thanks Sally! I'm so happy you like this story. I chose to have her proud of what she did with her art classes and getting her life together because she wanted Jim to be proud of her. I'll delve into more in the next chapter of how things went below the shiny surface she told him about. I'm really almost geeked out about this web chat that I came up with, I'm writing the next chapter today as soon as I finish replying to reviews everyone's been so kind to leave for me. Thanks for being my cheerleader! :) xx

10

ARGH!!!!! I'm SO SO frustrated! I just wrote a nice long review and then I accidentally hit a few buttons wrong and lost the whole darn thing!! I honestly want to scream, or cry, or something. I apologise. This may not be much compared to my usual reviews because of me losing that but right now I'm not feeling great and really spent. I promise if this isn't much to make it up in future chapters. I've just gotten behind and I'm determined to get caught up before I get further behind.

What can I say Danielle?! Right now you are like a writing Goddess! I mean, it is so nice how often I check this page for an update or something new and I may get either of those from you. For me it's very special when it's your writing because I know it will be a Jim/Pam story. It will be creative. It will be very high quality and in character. (Unless the story would call specifically for one or both to be out of character for some reason, but I think you would even have them seem in character in a unique situation. You just write them so well! Last I know there will be a happy ending for out dynamic couple no matter how much they have to suffer to get to it. Thank you for always providing this for us.

I was excited to see that you took up a season three story and one that I have always been very frustrated with how it ended. I mean, it just seemed that Pam would have asked for a minute to talk to Ryan or clarified when Jim thought she was ending the call so abruptly. For his part, when Jim was taking it as Pam saying goodbye she was clearly flustered and he could have easily questioned that. SOOOO the story....

I love how you first off have that little thing with Ryan as something that Jim didn't even really notice. You bring in their history with the mention of there being a bet about Dwight and Ryan that had been voiced between them at some point. Of course at this point Pam is still Pam, she has things she really wants, probably actually NEEDS to say, but it's all stuck inside her and she just can't manage to make herself say it. I'm hoping that once they are at home and cozy the topics may turn more personal, maybe she'll start drinking some wine that will loosen those words up and they'll be able to flow. I do hope also though that if they are able to talk about it, that Jim accepts that he deserves AT LEAST half of the blame, maybe more (IMO at least) for how things went.

I LOVE that they didn't let the fact that the cleaning crew came in be a reason that their communication had to end. I really loved that it was put that they would 'have dinner together.' So it was neat that they each, as they got home, had thoughts about moving and while Pam didn't specify in her thoughts that she was thinking about moving to Stamford, that's how I took it. Jim certainly was wondering how quickly he could get back to Scranton. What I loved so much about them having these thoughts is, it tells just how well they each percieved the conversation to have gone and where it will continue to go. (BTW, for the person who wondered about Pam having to live with white walls and not being able to hang anything. I lived in an apt like that. It was my very first apt and I was only 18 so I assummed it was standard. It was all in the lease and if there was tape residue at all or grease from that putty like stuff you can use he could and DID ding the deposit. I knew better the next time!)

Can I interject here, I never really bought Jim's excuse at the beginning of the call of having forgotten Kevin's extention and that's why he was going through the system. Jim is an organized, bright, smart salesman whose job is to remember things. He is apparently in contact with Kevin regularly so I just think he would have that extention down. I don't doubt that he thought Pam would be gone, as a matter of fact, I think he waited so long to call to make sure of that. I just think that he would go through the system because her voice on the machine when he called was the one little part of her that he could still have. Anyhow, just always wanted to get that out there and I guess I've just always wondered if anyone else felt that way.

I love how you can picture Jim driving home as quickly as he can, rushing to the fridge to reheat some rice, not wanting to take the time for anyting that would take longer because he wants to be ready when she calls. Your words certainly help me picture him there on his couch, with his rice, wanting the phone to ring and I suspect almost fearful that it won't. It's such a vivid picture that you painted for me at least, when the phone DID ring it felt like he was just so nervous, maybe sensing that there was a lot hinging in the rest of this call. The first part, in the office, I sense were safe, impersonal topics. Typing, co workers, kitchens etc. I'm thinking that once they re find their groove now that the conversation is continuing, each is in the safety and comfort of their home, I'm thinking perhaps some more personal and MUCH more painful topics may be around the corner.

I love how when the call comes it's just all Jim can think of and he actually drops his rice, making no move to pick it up and when he tells Pam he dropped it and she asks about it it's just 'eh, I'll get it later. It's very clear that the call is what's important to him, ALL that's important to him. I already like what you have done with this MUCH more than what the writers did and I KNOW that it's just going to get SO much better. You do just such a fantastic job with this stuff!

Thank you for always sharing so much of yourself with us. I know I'm just one person BUT I'm one person that doesn't get out and get to do much and fan fiction is a bit of a way that I'm able to escape my day to day misery. I hope you know how very genuinely I appreciate the time you spend dreaming up and writing the wonderful things that you share with us. Thank you Danielle. Thank you so much!

Author's Response: I'm always frustrated with the way the actual conversation between them ended, I completely agree with you! I watched it again last night and was still annoyed as ever, over analyzing it with my sister - which is how I came up with the idea for the next chapter that I'm starting today. I've always believed that Jim should remember Kevin's extension, and I agree, he may have wanted to end his day just listening to her voice on the company voice mail. I don't know if he'd readily admit it or not, but I really believe that's what happened. I agree, Jim does deserve some of the blame here too, at least half, but Pam is just as much at fault for not saying anything more to him on the phone. She may have thought she was making an effort but it was so meek that I can really see where he'd be annoyed and confused by the whole thing. Without giving away too much of what I have planned for the story, I thought it would be a good fun thing to explore this what if, because at that point, he's not so hurt and guarded against her that he'd be willing to talk more to her. I feel like once she cuts him off for no good reason (whether or not us viewers know she was just saying goodbye to Ryan) he starts to put up more walls against her and focuses on Karen a lot more. It's a subtle shift in the show, but it's there (maybe I over analyze things too much lol) Thank you so much for taking the time to review, they all mean so much to me! I have more of this story on the way hopefully today! :)

10

Yes, I like it! Can't wait for more. Pam should move to him. He's got the ocean and good job, she's got nothing but bad memories and a job she hates. Besides, I haven't seen a fic yet where SHE does the moving. I'm just saying. :)

Author's Response: Yay! I'm so happy you like it so far! More on the way soon! I'm still trying to work out the details of who moves where... I'll see which one makes more logical sense for the story. Glad you are liking it! :) Thanks so much!

8

I never did see the logic in Pam interrupting their conversation to speak to Ryan of all people. I guess it was just a contrivance to keep the rift and tension ongoing.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this, dialogue and characterisation were solid as usual, everything flowed very well and felt natural and the moment at the end was a nice balance between a big revelation (Beach Games or Casino Night) and many of the half-chances throughout the show (The Dundies or how this conversation ended in the show).

Very nice all around, looking forward to more.

Author's Response: I completely agree, the way she ended the phone call never makes sense to me no matter how many times I watch that episode. I'm so happy to hear you liked the dialog and characterization, it's really something I work really meticulously on when writing. I'm really happy you enjoyed this and hope you'll like the rest as it progresses. :) More on the way soon!

I love Jim/Pam on the phone. I hope you get them together -- I like alternatives to S3 episodes. I look forward to what happens next.

Author's Response: I love alternate season 3 fics too, and I'm happy you're liking this one. More on the way, it'll take a while to get to the end, but I hope it will leave you satisfied and smiling :)